Seventhly, we must persevere in prayer, for humble perseverance triumphs over the Invincible One. If the steadfastness and importunity of the widow in the Gospel inclined to her request the judge laden with all iniquity, how should such perseverance fail to move the heart of God, and incline Him to grant our petitions, Who is the Fountain of all Goodness?
And if the Lord should defer answering your prayer, or even seem to reject it, only pray on still, and keep your confidence in His help firm and unshaken; for He possesses, beyond measure, all that is needed to make graces in others.
Therefore, unless there is some impediment on our part, we shall infallibly obtain what we ask, or something else more expedient for us, or it may be both together.
And the more He seems to repel you, the lower should you humble yourself in your own sight, and reflect upon your own unworthiness; yet, keeping your gaze steadfastly fixed on the Mercy of God, increase more and more your confidence in Him, which if you keep lively and unshaken, the more it is assailed, the more pleasing will you become to your Lord.
Give Him, then, continual thanks, confessing Him to be no less Good, Wise, and Loving, when some of your petitions are denied than when they are all granted. Whatever may
